Development Chef
Location: West Cork
Department: Product Development & Innovation
Reports To: Head of NPD / Product Development Manager
Employment Type: Full-Time
Salary: €50-€55k
The Opportunity
Due to continued growth and innovation, our client is seeking a passionate and commercially focused Development Chef to join the Product Development team.
What We Offer
- Opportunity to work with one of Ireland's leading food companies.
- Exposure to innovative product development projects across Irish and European retail markets.
- Collaborative and supportive working environment.
- Career development opportunities within a growing business.
Key Responsibilities
Product Development & Innovation
- Lead New Product Development (NPD) and Existing Product Development (EPD) projects from concept to commercial launch.
- Create, develop, and refine innovative food recipes and product concepts aligned with consumer trends and customer requirements.
- Conduct product trials, sensory evaluations, benchmarking, and recipe optimisation.
- Translate culinary concepts into commercially viable products suitable for large-scale manufacturing.
- Research emerging food trends, ingredients, technologies, sustainability initiatives, and health-focused innovations.
Project Management
- Manage projects through the stage-gate NPD process, ensuring all critical milestones and deadlines are achieved.
- Coordinate factory trials, production validations, and launch activities.
- Prepare and maintain project documentation, specifications, recipes, and technical reports.
- Provide regular project updates to the NPD Manager and key stakeholders.
Technical & Compliance
- Ensure all products comply with food safety, HACCP, BRC, allergen management, customer requirements, and relevant food legislation.
- Work closely with Technical and Quality teams to ensure products are safe, legal, and meet agreed standards.
- Support specification development and approval processes.
- Ensure accurate documentation of product formulations, trials, and process controls.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Collaborate with Technical, Production, Procurement, Sales, Marketing, and Commercial teams to deliver successful product launches.
- Participate in customer presentations, product demonstrations, and retailer meetings.
- Liaise with suppliers to source innovative ingredients and packaging solutions.
- Support continuous improvement initiatives across the Innovation Department.
Skills & Experience
Essential
- Degree or qualification in Food Technology, Food Science, Culinary Arts, Food Business, or a related discipline.
- Minimum 3 years' experience within a food manufacturing, FMCG, NPD, Technical, Quality, or Product Development environment.
- Strong understanding of food science, ingredient functionality, product formulation, and manufacturing processes.
- Knowledge of HACCP, BRC standards, allergen management, food safety, and food legislation.
- Experience managing projects from concept through to launch.
- Excellent organisational, communication, and presentation skills.
- Strong attention to detail and documentation skills.
Interested? We’d love to hear from you. Please click “apply now” to submit your CV to Joanne Bourke for immediate review or call 01 8788240 for more information!
About Quorum Search Partners
Quorum Search Partners is a specialist recruitment firm focused on the Food Manufacturing, FMCG, and ingredients sectors. We work with Irish and international employers on permanent, interim, and executive search assignments. Our approach is practical, confidential, and built on long-term relationships with both clients and candidates.
INDHS
Benefits:
Application question(s):
- Do you have a minimum 3 years' experience within a food manufacturing, FMCG, NPD, Technical, Quality, or Product Development environment? Please describe.
- What is your current notice period?
- Are you legally permitted to work in Ireland full-time for this role?
- Are you willing to relocate to West Cork for this position?
Work Location: Remote
